The Noatec: Long Time Toker - First Time Grow.

[Long Time Toker]

Here's a pic from this morning.
I'm considering going 24 hours for a month before flower, but I'm a little concerned about the electric bill.

 

[Loch]

What is the concern about the electric bill? Are you switching lights for the 12/12 as well. To be honest I think a 400watt HPS run 12 hours a day for a month would cost around an additional 7 - 12 bucks a month.

,
Loch

 

[Long Time Toker]

I'm running 18/6 right now so going 24 for a month is only 6 more hours. I'll have 12 seedlings ready before I go into flower based on SpeesCees thread here:
Speecees 12x12 = 7 annual harvest

 

[Loch]

I found the formula... this assumes $0.12 per KW hour price...
400 watts x 24 hours/day x 30.5 days/month = 292,800 Total Watt-hours
292,800 Wh / 1000 Wh = 293 kWh
293 kWh x 12¢/kWh = $35.16/mo.; $422/yr.

When you buy electricity they charge you by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). When you use 1000 watts for 1 hour, that's a kilowatt-hour. For example:

[FONT=Fixedsys]Device                 wattage    Time used  kWh    Cost[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]medium window-unit AC  1000 watts   1 hour   1 kWh     .12[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]large window-unit AC   1500 watts   1 hour   1.5kWh    .18[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]small window-unit AC    500 watts   1 hour   0.5 kWh   .06[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]42" ceiling fan on low   24 watts  10 hours  0.24 kWh  .03[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]light bulb              100 watts 730 hours 73 kWh    8.76[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]CFL light bulb           25 watts 730 hours 18 kWh    2.16[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]HPS                     400 watts  24 hours  9.6 kWh  1.15[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]HPS                     400 watts 730 hours 293 kWh  35.16[/FONT]

Understand that a 400 watt HPS may cost a little more due to ballest, also if your running a cooling fan for the light, etc... but you can get a pretty good idea of what the cost will be from the formula and chart above.

,
Loch

 

[Long Time Toker]

Thanks Loch,
Think I'll switch it over to 24h in the morning. But first I need to install the inline fan for the vent. I came home from work the other day and the whole house smelled like weed. I thought I had enough pull from the chimney, but no dice.
They are a foot tall today btw.

 

[Long Time Toker]

Noatec's Log: Grow date 1/20/10
DWC 400w HPS 12/12 Strain:unknown mix(heavy sativa bag seed) Flower:5days RoomTemp:~75-80 RezTemp:~60-65 PH:6.5 Nutes:ForaNova Bloom PPM:~ 50%

Hey kids,
Here's some recent pics.

 

[Keith Lake]

How are you maintaining your DWC res temperature?

 

[Long Time Toker]

My G room is in the basement, unfinished, so it pretty much self regulates. I did have to get the tub off the concrete in the beginning. I threw my small humidifyer in there last night. Any thoughts on sex? I think the second pic is the only male.

 

[Loch]

I think your right about the second pic looking male. give it a few more days/ or week, and if he is a he you'll be able to tell. There getting big and bushy!!!

 

[Long Time Toker]

Are males any good for cooking? My wife has a mean brownie recipe I'd like to try adding to.

 

[Wingman420]

Hello Noatec, and great job on the grow! I will be dropping in and await your buds. I know they will be delicious.

 

[Long Time Toker]

Thanks Wingman, Can't wait to sample. I hope Avatar is still in theaters by then.

 

[Long Time Toker]

Funny story:
Had to shutoff main power to the house today to relocate a 220 for the new dryer. My 12/12 cycle is on the 4s. The work took exactly 20 minutes.
Think I'll leave things just the way they are.

 

[Long Time Toker]

Had to chop down the hombres today. Now the girls can spread out and take off.

 

[Long Time Toker]

My two girls are really poppin pistols now.

 

[Wingman420]

Hello Noatec, and I too am anxiously awaiting your smoke report. As for the Avatar movie I have not seen it either. I breed and train birds, if that was the reference. Good Luck on the Grow. +rep

 

[Long Time Toker]

Here's a couple pics of day 18 in flower.

 

[Long Time Toker]

Day 22 of flower:
I've employed two techniques I've recently read about.
LST:
I happen to have some hemp string left over from a craft project my wife and I did. What better to use as a tie down. I made slip knots and tightened it a little each day. The side nodes react surprisingly fast.
I'm also half cutting large fan leaves that are blocking buds from direct light rather than removing them completely.
Things are looking good from my perspective. Lots of healthy flowers.
Here's some pics.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Seems to be just the waiting game now......

 

[Long Time Toker]

Man I can't get no love on this board. Am I doing something wrong ?
Anyway,
Today marks 4 weeks in flower. Seems like the buds should be bigger by now. Wishful thinking?
Changed the rez out today. What a pain in the ass. NFT making more sense now.
Any opinions to the contrary ?

 

[StinkFinger]

One sit rep!

They're getting there man!

Kudos.

How much light you providing?

Might take a little while for them to fatten up, but patience will be worth it. That top cola should fill in nicely.

SF

PS. From what I've read, if during the flowering period you're doing LST and cutting leaves, etc. This takes energy away from "making" buds and redirects that energy to repairing the plant. End result, it might take longer to flower.